Chitai-Gorod: Bookstore Chain in Moscow, Hours and Payment

By Moscow Vibes · October 9, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026

Chitai-Gorod, whose name means Reading City, is a Russian bookstore chain, and this guide to Chitai-Gorod Moscow explains what a visitor can find in its stores. The chain emerged from the merger of the Novyi Knizhnyi and Bukvoed chains, began opening stores under its own name in 2009 and reported more than 550 stores in 187 cities by the end of 2021.

The stores sell books, stationery, toys, games and souvenirs, and Moscow stores are mostly inside shopping centers, such as Metropolis near Voykovskaya, Afimall City in Moscow City and Aviapark. Almost all the books are in Russian, so the stores are most useful for stationery, children’s books, art albums and gifts. The sections below cover the range, hours and payment.

Quick Facts

Russian name	Читай-город
Address	Metropolis shopping center, Leningradskoye Highway 16A building 4, 3rd floor, Moscow (one of many stores; check the official site for others)
Metro	Voykovskaya (Line 2, green, the Metropolis mall is described as near Voykovskaya; the walking time and exit were not verified)
Opening hours	Stores are mostly in shopping centers and follow mall hours; the store at Metropolis is listed as open from 10:00 to 23:00, but hours vary by location, so check the store page on the official site (as of October 2026 – check the official site).
Best time to visit	Weekday afternoons are usually calmer than evenings and weekends, and the stores keep mall hours, so check the closing time before you go.
Recommended duration	20–40 minutes
Website	chitai-gorod.ru
Last updated	October 9, 2026

Why Visit Chitai-Gorod?

A Chitai-Gorod store is a practical place to buy stationery, notebooks, postcards, puzzles and small gifts, and a good way to see Russian publishing: the stores have sections for fiction, children’s books, comics and manga, art and hobbies. Moscow stores are in shopping centers, so they are open until late evening, and the renovated flagship stores in Aviapark and Afimall City use reading areas and displays that invite browsing.

For travelers who do not read Russian, illustrated books, atlases, art albums and children’s picture books are the easiest purchases, and the foreign-language selection is not verified. A visit takes less than an hour.

Highlights of Chitai-Gorod

Stationery and notebooks

The stationery area, with multi-level displays in the renovated stores, sells notebooks, pens, sketchbooks and planners that make easy souvenirs. Look for the stationery section on the store map. Check the price on the shelf label.

Tip: Notebooks with Russian designs make light gifts.

Children's books and picture books

Illustrated children's books and picture books are the easiest books to enjoy without reading Russian. Look for the children's section, usually near the entrance. Check the age range on the cover.

Tip: Choose books with pictures for non-readers of Russian.

Art albums and atlases

Art, photography and atlas books are sold in their own sections, and many are bilingual or image-led. Check the language on the back cover.

Tip: Look for albums on Moscow and Russian art and architecture.

Comics and manga

The renovated stores have a section for comics and manga with industrial-style shelving, mostly in Russian translation. Check the series name on the spine.

Tip: Use the section as a window into popular youth culture.

Souvenirs, games and toys

The stores sell souvenirs, puzzles, board games and toys, which often change with the season or holiday. Check the shelves near the tills for small gifts.

Tip: Buy small gifts near the till at the end of your visit.

Stores in shopping centers

Moscow stores are mostly in malls such as Metropolis, on the 3rd floor, Afimall City and Aviapark, and there is also a store at the Evropeisky mall at Kievsky station. Check the store page on the official site for the nearest store and hours.

Tip: Use the mall's opening hours as your guide.

Atmosphere

A Chitai-Gorod store is a bright, organized space with long shelves of books, display tables with new releases and reading corners in the renovated stores. The sounds are shopping center music, the turning of pages and staff helping customers at the tills.

Weekday afternoons are calm, while weekends, school-supply season and holiday gift shopping fill the stores with families, and the labels and signs are in Russian.

History of Chitai-Gorod

The chain took shape after the merger of two large bookselling chains, Novyi Knizhnyi and Bukvoed, in 2008, and in 2009 the company opened stores under its own Chitai-Gorod brand. By December 2018 the combined chains had 576 locations, 435 of them under the Chitai-Gorod name and 141 under Bukvoed, and the company announced that it would manage the stores of both brands.

As of December 2021 the network consisted of more than 550 stores in 187 cities. A shopping center page states that the chain operates more than 500 bookstores and an online platform. In 2026 the company introduced a new store concept, which opened first in the Aviapark and Afimall City malls in Moscow.

The current number of stores should be checked on the official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.

Tickets and Booking for Chitai-Gorod

Payment. Cash in rubles is the most reliable way to pay. Whether foreign Visa or Mastercard cards work could not be verified and should not be assumed; Russian Mir cards and mobile payments are used by locals, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.

Checkout and bags. Stores have staffed tills; self-checkout was not verified. Bags are usually sold at the till.

Finding stores. The official site chitai-gorod.ru lists stores and hours; stores are mostly in shopping centers, for example Metropolis, Afimall City and Aviapark.

How to Get to Chitai-Gorod

Chitai-Gorod has stores across Moscow, so there is no single route. One example is the store in the Metropolis shopping center on Leningradskoye Highway, on the 3rd floor, described as near Voykovskaya on the green Line 2.

By Metro: check the store page on the official site for the nearest station.
By taxi: use the mall’s address from the official site.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies by store; stores in shopping centers generally have lifts and step-free routes, but this was not verified for individual stores, so check the details or ask staff.

Food Nearby

Shopping centers that host Chitai-Gorod stores have food courts and cafes; the exact venues were not verified.

What to Bring

Bring cash in rubles, a translation app for the covers and a bag for purchases.

Photography Rules

Rules for photography in stores were not verified; it is polite to ask staff before photographing shelves or customers.

Family Suitability

Suitable for families, with children's books, toys and games; stores in malls are generally stroller-friendly, though this was not verified for individual stores.

Moscow Vibes Tips

Choose illustrated books, atlases and art albums if you do not read Russian.
Check whether a book is a translation or an original by looking for the author's name in Latin letters on the cover.
Buy stationery and small gifts near the tills as easy souvenirs.
Visit one of the renovated flagship stores in Aviapark or Afimall City to see the new concept.
Carry cash in rubles in case a card is declined.
Combine the visit with a meal in the shopping center.

Where to Find Chitai-Gorod in Moscow

Chitai-Gorod has branches across the city, so there is no single address to list. To find the closest one, search on Yandex Maps or Google Maps from your hotel or metro station.

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FAQ: Chitai-Gorod

What is Chitai-Gorod?

A Russian bookstore chain whose name means Reading City.

Are there books in English?

The foreign-language selection was not verified; most books are in Russian.

What can I buy without reading Russian?

Stationery, picture books, art albums, atlases, puzzles and souvenirs.

What are the hours?

They follow mall hours; the Metropolis store is listed as open from 10:00 to 23:00.

Can I pay with a foreign card?

This could not be verified and should not be assumed; carry cash in rubles, and check your country's sanctions rules.

Where are the stores in Moscow?

Mostly in shopping centers such as Metropolis, Afimall City and Aviapark.

Do staff speak English?

Not reliably; a translation app helps.

Is Bukvoed the same company?

Bukvoed merged with the chain, and both brands are managed together.

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Last updated: October 9, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.

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About this guide: AI assistance and accuracy

This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.

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